Betrayal of Eralavict: Episode 5: The Suits,
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Oh man! The girls are so mad at me for pullin' out the weekend craziness last minute. But dammit I forgot my family was stayin' at the crib for the weekend. I haven't seen my cousin in years, my folks never let me go stay at her place. Somethin' about my disobedience needing to be contained.

Don't wanna unleash me on an innocent family. Like I'm some feral beast or virus. I sigh. I throw the thought to the back of my mind and finish collectin' all the supplies fa Avuh (Aye-vuh) Kanatha (Kuh-nay-thuh). Avuh is the Yerosai bathing process.

Yes, our bathing is a process. It cleans our golden layers real deep. There's the long version we call Avuh Kanatha and the short one simply called Shinin'. For Shinin' we don't have to make a new batch, we warm up an oldie, rub it all over our body like oil and get a single layer cleaning and a nice glow. But since family is comin' by—I got to go all out.

Our skin catches funk like regular skin, so just like regular skin we washes it with regular water and soap. Oh yeah! There's this nasty ass juice we have to consume every so often to keep the gold inside our bodies in workin' order. That shit shouldn't even be legal, it's torture on sensitive taste buds like mine. I hit up the backyard, pattering around my mama's garden, search for Ozkh (Ohz-kah) herb—a stubby yellow-green plant that stinks like hell, but good stuff.

Its used for practically everything in Gatara—in one way or another. I pluck five from the ground, throwin' 'em in my basket, and skipped back into the house, heading for the kitchen. I already had my silver Bulus (Boo-luhs) Powder out, spring water—fresh right from da spring. 'Cause that's how I gets down. I crush two shrubs of Ozkh, my nose wrinkled from the scent, I push the plate of crushed herb to the side on the counter.

I scoop a cup of Bulus Powder and dump it into an empty bowl, then pour my bowl of water in the powder. I mix it up well, then add the crushed Ozkh in the mix. Alright! My liquid was readay! Time fa a sista's soap.

I search through the cabinets looking for some purple cream that mama keeps in bulk. I found it—scared to death in the dark corner of a bottom cabinet. I pull it from underneath and sat it on the counter next to my liquid. I scoop out way more than I was supposed to and slopped it in the red bowl I already had set out. Thank god mama was not in this kitchen!

Or 'Tika. 'Cause I know she would run her little mouth, then lose it once I come for her. A vial of brown liquid was next to be dumped in the cream. It was Anylu (Uh-nil-luh) Shoog, my favorite scent. It was a sweet sugar smell, perfect for this tasty little treat.

“Ow!” I laugh to myself.

I crush two more Ozkhs and let em loose in my soap. I ate the last Ozkh—making a face of disgust, but took it like a woman! I mix up the scent and the Ozkh in the cream. Then I was off for the shower. When I hopped out the shower I could hear my mom screamin' out Auntie's name.

I grin to myself, happy that my clothes were already out on my bed. I leave my bathroom, skin barely dry, rushing to my clothes. I wanted to show my cousin the new fit I got. Though she really rather me rep my golden skin. But still—she go love it.

My family was visitin' all the way from Mochai Tree. A city I only visited about two times in my life. They had the best trees a girl ever seen. Special trees with special properties. I laugh loudly.

Like I care about some trees, me and cuz didn't care nothing about 'em. We was only interested in climbing them and seein' if we can get inside them. Once my cloths was neatly on, I looked at myself in the mirror, hitting a few poses, then ran for my door. My purrty cousin was on the other end. She was all human, smooth almond-brown skin, short Afro, showing off those high cheek bones, wrapped up in a rose red dress that stopped at her knees. Both of us had mega grins on our face.

“KZ!” She screams.

I scream back, “C-Lala!”

“Girl gimme a hug!” We jump into a hug, still screamin' our lungs sore.

My cuz pulls back from me, saying, “How's my bad ass cousin' doin'?”

“Girl, tryna survive a crazy house—full a nuts.”

Chaila replied, “I heard that. Let's see what the nuts cooked up for lunch, 'cause a sista hungry.”

We laugh, arms locked, skipping down the steps going to the dining room. We pass through the kitchen and the first face I automatically zone in on is my Aunt Chyjan Mokam. I swear—I love that woman so much. There she was, big cloud like hair tumbling down around her, lookin' fabulous, her sienna brown skin glowin' even mo' with her bright blue shirt against it. My Uncle M'stovik (Muh-stow-vick) already comfy at the table with my cousins, Varion and M'tila (Muh-ty-luh).

Auntie was my mom's big sis and the best Aunt a niece could have. Chyjan is the only human born of their Yerosai family. She knows the Yerosai Gatarin culture well, having grown up in it. But, she still felt something like an outsider, so she got the mark our sigil, proving her lineage, a golden mark. It's a painful process, some souls been unfortunate to die from it, but she still did it—even knowing the risks, but it's some shit she will not subject her kids to.

They only half Yerosai anyways, but Yay—a full blood one—can still be born down the generations, even with diluted blood. Some Yays born as humans grow wings, some may be bodily ready to get the gold in their 30's. If they don't get—death could ensue. Once the process is done, it's permanent, rarely does the body reject the magic, unless the magic and stone is corrupted.

“Khezzy, my honey baby,” Auntie said, taking her seat across from me, “look at you! You look great—skin a glowin'. Is it 'cause a that boy I been hearin' about?”

I grin at the thought of my babe Drei, I peek at my cuz Chaila. My Auntie giggles at me blushing, Chaila shakes her head. I already know she want the scoop. After she cuss me out first fa not tellin' her I had a man.

“Uh,” I relay, finding my escape by staring down at my untouched plate, “can't give him all the credit. It's more due to Avuh Kanatha, you know.”

I chance looking up at her.

Auntie Chyjan shakes her head with a grin that never dropped. “Oh honey, I know all about Kanatha and it doesn't make you glow like this nor grin the way you just did. Spill the beans girlie. What's his name? What's he like?”

“Yeah,” Chaila chimes, “spill it. You already know you in trouble wit' me. Cuz did a sista get a buzz?”

I shake my head at my cousin. Gotta love that girl, I have no choice.

“Dyondrei is he, Drei for short. He's...he's,” I didn't even have words for my baby, “he's so like me. Adventurous, got laugh jumps fa days—he's that.”

Chaila shakes her head incredulously. “He's not that that.”

I give my cousin a look, then a big stupid grin settles on my face. “Yeah Chai Chai, he that that. Ow!”

It took my mom long enough, I damn near forgot she was real. Jyyetha mockingly laughs, “Don't hype him too big. Chyjan, really, we don't want to encourage her behaviour.”

Chaila turns to face my mom who was at the head of the table, my dad at the other head. Chaila was next to me, her face turned all up. “What behavior is that Auntie Jy?”

Mom points her fork at Chaila. “One you don't know nothing about by the way I hear, keep it that way,” she says sternly. “Be careful hanging around our Khez—she may rub off on you.”

“Stop it 'Yetha,” her big sister chides.

“Oh Chy, I'm just telling the truth—keeping it real. Like you always say.”

It doesn't take long for dad to be a follower and voice his dislike for Drei. And all the ways in which he disapproves of our courtship. And whoop there it is, the lunch just tumbled down the hill and cracked its neck. I couldn't say nothing. My face warmed with embarrassment.

The family ain't even been here for a good hour before my parents went in on me. Damn man! My uncle neutralized the situation the best way he could, by changin' the subject. From the corner of my eye I saw my Aunt nod to Chaila.

He cleared his throat, “Halan, how's the business goin' for you?”

I didn't hear nothin' else after that. My cousin musta took notice of me shutting down, 'cause without a word she was pullin' me from the table and out the back door. Chaila drags me pass the garden, the backyard fence, heading for the trees. She lets me go when we come up on Auiji. It's one of my favorite places near the house and my cuz knew.

Softly I say, looking down at my feet, “Thanks Chaila.”

Chaila was leaning on a tree. I hear her reply, “Shit, naga please. Yo' mama should be thankin' me for not poppin' her in her face. Girl, I had to get my own ass outta there”

“Chaila,” I lift my head to her a true eye, “thank you.”

Chaila hears the vulnerability and gives me her eye. “You welcome. I knew your parents to be assholes, but damn! I thought it would wear off. Guess not.”

I move closer to the stream, kneeling down to dangle my fingers in the cool water. My silence was loud to my cousin. She left from the tree to put her hand on my shoulder.